The Recipe · No.709 · Dal Makhani

Dal Makhani, and Where to Source It

The velvet texture is time, not cream added at the end. Whole urad lentils have to simmer for hours, stirred often, so they slowly break down and thicken the pot on their own; the butter and cream just round off a dal that is already rich. Shortcut the simmer and it stays thin and grainy.

Ad-free · ingredients first · no 2,000-word story.

Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep20 min (plus soak)
Cook4 hr
Makes6 servings
CuisineIndian
Part One
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Whole black urad dal
Whole black lentils, not split; they hold shape while thickening the pot. Soak overnight.
1 cup
Source it →
Kidney beans
A handful of rajma cooked in for body and bite. Soak with the dal.
1/4 cup
Source it →
Butter
The makhani in the name; stirred in through the long simmer. A cultured butter adds depth.
5 tbsp
Source it →
Cream
A finishing swirl for silk and shine, added at the end off the boil.
1/3 cup
Source it →
Ginger, garlic and tomato
The aromatic base with garam masala. Fresh, bought local.
to taste
Local / market
One list, with a link to where to buy each one.
Part Two
The Method
  1. Soak and boilSoak the urad dal and kidney beans overnight, then boil until fully tender.
  2. Make the baseCook ginger, garlic, and tomato with garam masala and chili until jammy in butter.
  3. Simmer longAdd the lentils with their liquid and simmer on very low for 2-4 hours, stirring often, adding water as it thickens.
  4. Finish richSwirl in cream and a last knob of butter off the heat. Serve with rice or naan.
Part Three
The Toolkit

Heavy pot · Pressure cooker · Wooden spoon

No ads. No life story. Just dinner.
This is recipe No.709 — the real method, ingredients first, and exactly where to buy the best version of every one. See all the recipes →

Some ingredient and tool links are affiliate links — if you buy through one, 5best2buy may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never costs the maker anything, and it never decides who we recommend. The list is the list.
© 2026 5best2buy · Worth The Hunt · Recipe No.709